HOW WE GOT THE CHRISTMAS TREE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2545, 24 December 1902, Page 16 (Supplement)

HOW WE GOT THE CHRISTMAS TREE.

Until comparatively recent years the " good old Christmas tree " was an unknown thing outside Germany, and even by no means a common thing there, within the memory of men now living. Princess Helen of Orleans first introduced it into France in 1840, and it came to England, with the Prince Consort, about the same time. Christmas trees were apparently sold for the first time at the Dresden Christmas market in 1807. But at this time they were quite common in North Germany. They were known in Holland in 1796. To these countries, and to Sweden, Russia, and Italy, the Christmas tree came from Germany. In Russia it is not common even yet, being seen only in the houses of the aristocracy in Moscow and St. Petersburg. At present in Sweden the Christmas tree is regarded as an importation from Germany. Christmas trees, properly so called, were no. known in Sweden as late as the beginning of last century, although it waa customary to erect pines and firs before the houses, and the Christmas trees were common on some of the Swedish Islands. The net result of the records at hand seems to be that the Christmas tree was in use in Strasburg and its vicinity in 1600,. or earlier, and that the custom did not spread much until about 1730. Then it began its triumphal career, making, however, slow progress at first. It tooK about a century to overrun all Germany, while another 50 years sufficed for it to conquer the rest of the Christian world.